An Interesting View on Paganism

[Jacob4Jesus]

Good post, thanks.

But, as the post of Carico's that you were responding to was directed to me, I just want to make one small correction in what looks like an incorrect assumption about me in your post. Just to be clear, the spiritual path that I follow is not the path of the Pagan.

Where the problem may arise though MAY be in that Carico may be grouping ALL people who are not Christians as Evil with Satan working through them and thus equate ALL who are outside of the Christian structure are Pagan.

..

No offense intended. I was responding directly to one comment in the post that was directed towards pagans. I was just too lazy to edit the other stuff out. Sorry!

 

[Smilin]

Actually according to Carico we're all atheists if we don't follow her path.

And according to Pat Buchannon (sp?),
feminism leads to women killing their children,
becoming lesbians and practicing witchcraft...

Luckily, we're not drones.

 

[SquareC]

Agreed. Discount this forum and the mods, you will
find the double standard throughout Christianity.
This has been my experience in exploring the religion,
and one of many reasons I can't accept it as truth.

That has been one of my own reasons as well. Hypocrisy is abhorent to me, although I admit I can be guilty of this flaw as well. I try to avoid it though, which it seems does not hold true of many others. You and I are, again, on the same page, my friend!

 

[Smilin]

. You and I are, again, on the same page, my friend!

"Yigaquu osaniyu adanvto adadoligi
nigohilvi nasquv utloyasdi nini" (May the Great Spirit's Blessings Always by with you.)

 

[dlamberth]

No offense intended. I was responding directly to one comment in the post that was directed towards pagans. I was just too lazy to edit the other stuff out. Sorry!

I'm not offended at all. I think the important point for all of us to keep in mind is that we do represent a wide range of spiritual traditions here.

And I stand corrected because even though I'm very much a lover of my Beloved God, because my path follows one that is not Christian in nature, I guess in truth I'm an atheist, not a Pagan.

..

 

[SquareC]

"Yigaquu osaniyu adanvto adadoligi
nigohilvi nasquv utloyasdi nini" (May the Great Spirit's Blessings Always by with you.)

Blessed Be to you as well! And Happy Thanksgiving also!

 

[Smilin]

Blessed Be to you as well! And Happy Thanksgiving also!

Thank you my friend,,,
and the festivities are soon to begin!

 

[Boanerge]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. May your tummies be full for days to come.

gobble gobble gobble!

uh...... eh hem... just trying a little humor there....

(gulp)...... *eyes shifting* Never mind. *poof!*

Laters!

 

[Rae]

See The God i know can not look at sin,

The Gods I know, know that there is no such thing as sin.

(re lying about God believers and calling them atheists) Sadly, judgement has been rendered that this is acceptable behavior.

But that doesn't mean we should sink to some Christians' levels and start calling the Christians here atheists for not believing in Zeus. Let's try to set a better example. That way the sane Christians will recognize that the attacks on us are unjustified...and the insane ones will have no real ammo for their attacks on us.

Enjoy the day, everyone!

 

[Boanerge]

Well. Sin is Just darkness. Ofcourse Darkness is too vague so sin describes what Darkness is with a more clear understanding of what it does.. So if you dont believe in Darkness, twsited truths, hiding truths, oppression, arrogance, ignorance -> then sure, there is no sin...

 

[Havoc]

Actually Darkness is just a lack of active photons. Darkness is just half of each day. It has nothing to do with human behaviour or intent.

 

[Rae]

Darkness does not equal evil or bad, hon. And "sin" isn't just "bad stuff." "Sin" is a religious doctrine that states that because of bad stuff, I can't have a relationship to the Divine and must be tossed into hell. I don't believe in that religious doctrine. Sin does not equal "bad stuff," and I always find it a bit of a cop-out when Christians try to equate it to that.

I don't see how anyone can say darkness is bad. I love the night. I can stay up for hours, watching the stars and the moon sailing across the sky.

 

[EarthDragon]

How funny to find a pagan forum in a Christian link! Ha ha. I wandered in here looking for some ammunition for an arguement I am having with a Christian friend about the American Muslims right to life and liberty. It is an arguement I do not want to get into here as well!!! It seems not being predjuce makes me less patriotic. Whatever.
I couldn't make it thru all 29 pages of posts, but while I am here, I would like to add a thing or two. It would amaze many people the similarities of religions. How they all draw to a basic root. The Pagan theory is without dogma, and that is why the word "isn't spread". Most pagans do not care what you think is right because it is your own personal journey that defines who you are. You will most often find Pagan preachers at Save the Earth rallies, cleaning up trash from the park, or hiking in the mountains. Christianity is full of dogma, meaning that you have to believe a certain way or you may not belong. Yet, God is someone different to each Christian. There are so many sects of Christianity because people disagree about what is law. Paganism simply embraces everyone's road to the Divine, as long as it lends them comfort. As a Pagan, I am offended from the comment that we believe whatever is convient to believe. Spirituality is a personal journey. God appears differently to me each time I seek because I am different each time. The world is ever-changing and whether we like it or not, we are just animals of the Earth. Why shouldn't our views of the world and diety change as fast as the world spins?
I feel no need to convert anyone, because the Lord is someone you must look for intellectually to fully comprhend. I have read scripture and believed the spoken word, but I have never been so close to God as when I walk outside and feel the Sun on my face. That is what Holy is, not church walls and donations. I was walking downtown with my 3 year old son who wanted to look inside a Presbyterian church we were passing. The doors were locked and the minister next door refused to let my son in the "house of God" because it was an inconvient time for him. What if I had needed God at that moment? To deny a curious child? I knelt there on the sidewalk and thanked the Spirit around me that my church was the Earth and I cannot be denied so long as I can understand the cycles of nature.
I thought the first post was a question asked for understanding of Pagan views. Why else would it have been posted? The following posts from Pagans seem to explain their thoughts, yet the Christian posts seem to be preaching their own religion. I don't understand a mind that can not comprehend that their thoughts are the only ones worthy, and all else are false. Leaves no room for growth and personal improvementss.

 

[Smilin]

Well. Sin is Just darkness. Ofcourse Darkness is too vague so sin describes what Darkness is with a more clear understanding of what it does.. So if you dont believe in Darkness, twsited truths, hiding truths, oppression, arrogance, ignorance -> then sure, there is no sin...

And spiritual truths remain in darkeness to many...regardless
of their chosen relgion. For truth is truth. Of course these
truths remain hidden from those who do not open themselves
to them. For what humans have always feared or misunderstand,
they simply label: Evil, Satanic, or sin. That is a severe injustice.

If you label what you can't understand out of arrogance, ignorance,
or unacceptance as sin... you simply cower from true understanding.

Peace be with you.
~Smilin

 

[dlamberth]

For what humans have always feared or misunderstand,

they simply label: Evil, Satanic, or sin.

I think that also, people with a common social structure use the images of Evil, Satan and sin to characterize "others" in other social structures as inferior, morally deprived and even potentially accursed in order to prove that God is on their side. In times of conflict or war, the use of these demonic images become even more intense and raised up as a reality that is perceived as "truth" to de-humanized the other guy. I personally feel that this is often, (not always) the first step that happens that raises bar on the fear and misunderstanding of "other" people in "other" social structures. I also feel that this same process characterizes the developement of Evil, Satan and Sin with in Christianity in it's early years. That's one of the reasons why as far as I'm concerned, it's "their" perceived reality, and not one that I own.


..

 

[Smilin]

Actually Darkness is just a lack of active photons. Darkness is just half of each day. It has nothing to do with human behaviour or intent.

Light, especially the absence of light, does affect
human behaviors. Thus the higher rates of depression
in Alaska.

 

[Smilin]

Good points!

I think that also, people with a common social structure use the images of Evil, Satan and sin to characterize "others" in other social structures as inferior, morally deprived and even potentially accursed in order to prove that God is on their side.
In times of conflict or war, the use of these demonic images become even more intense and raised up as a reality that is perceived as "truth" to de-humanized the other guy.

The Crusades? The 'forced' conversion of the Native Americans versus
the alternative of being slane? The early persecutions of the Protestant
movement? The Salem Witch Hunt paranoia/frenzy? The radical
Islamic movement against Christianity?...

Yes, Satan has merely been the propoganda for the Christianity/Islamic
agenda to rally the troops for war and conflict.